Lisa Autry

Reporter/Producer

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.

Simpson County has become the third Kentucky county to give preliminary approval to a right-to-work law.

The Simpson County Fiscal Court voted unanimously Tuesday on a local ordinance that allows workers to decide whether to join a union and pay dues without fear of losing their job. Simpson County borders Tennessee which has a right-to-work law. For Judge-Executive Jim Henderson, it’s an economic development issue.

"It is perceived by many new and expanding businesses throughout the country that Kentucky is not as business-friendly because we don't have right to work," Henderson told WKU Public Radio. "Whether it's real or perceived doesn't really matter because when those companies are looking at locating a plant somewhere in the country, many of them simply won't look at Kentucky."

Eldon Renaud, president of the United Auto Workers Union in Bowling Green, spoke out against the ordinance at the fiscal court meeting, arguing right-to-work laws drive down wages and benefits for employees.

An important deadline is just days away for Kentuckians needing health insurance.

Although the second enrollment period on Kentucky’s health care exchange runs until February 15, residents must sign up for coverage by Monday in order to be covered when the new year begins.

"If you wait until February 15th the soonest your effective date can be is March 1st," explains Kynect Executive Director Carrie Banahan. "If you're wanting coverage by January 1st, you really need to enroll by Monday, December 15th."

More than 18,000 Kentuckians have been filed applications for private insurance or Medicaid since open enrollment began a month ago. The first month of last year’s enrollment period resulted in 32,000 applications.

"Keep in mind that last year we enrolled more than 400,000 people," adds Banahan. "There was a lot of pent up demand among people who didn't have insurance coverage, and now a lot of folks do."

Most of the uninsured have gained coverage through an expansion of Medicaid.

According to one poll, Kentucky's uninsured rate fell from 20.4 percent in 2013 to 11.9 in 2014.

One Kentucky county isn’t waiting on Frankfort to pass right-to-work legislation.

The Warren County Fiscal Court Thursday took the first of two votes required to approve a right-to-work ordinance.

The vote was 5-1 with Magistrate Tommy Hunt casting the lone “no” vote.

The ordinance covers only private-sector workers, not teachers or other public employees. A final vote on the ordinance is scheduled for December 19.

According to the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Warren County would become the first county in the nation to adopt a local right-to-work law, which means workers would have the right to choose whether or not to join a union and pay dues without jeopardizing their employment.

WKU is preparing to add “all gender” restrooms to campus facilities in the coming months. Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Richard Miller says the decision was made in response to the university’s changing demographics.

"You're going to have a very diverse group of students on any college or university campus, whether it's members of the LGBTQ community or members of our international community," Miller told WKU Public Radio. "I think it's one of the responsibilities of an institution to try to address the needs of the various constituencies that they serve."

Dr. Miller stresses that the gender neutral restrooms will not be community restrooms. They’ll be private, and as for signage, the university is planning to designate them as simply “restroom.”

"For the last 60 years, I guess, coal mining has been the life blood of this community, Jenkins told WKU Public Radio. "Historically, we've had mine closures and layoffs, but it doesn't make it any easier."

Union County's unemployment rate in October was 4.8%. The statewide rate was 6.2%.

Patriot emerged from bankruptcy reorganization a year ago and had earlier closed its mines in Henderson County. In a news release, the company said low natural gas prices and tougher EPA regulations continue to drive down coal prices, resulting in operating losses at many mines.

Kentucky’s largest pension plan for state workers needs a major cash infusion, more so than lawmakers had planned.

The KRS Board of Trustees met Thursday and said the latest estimates will mean higher than expected contributions from the state in the next budget cycle.

Based on current projections, the Kentucky Employee Retirement System, or KERS, will need about $95 million each year in additional taxpayer funding in order to honor commitments made last year to fully fund pensions.

"It is a daunting task in large measure," said State Senator Joe Bowen. "However, I am of the school that in a $20 billion budget, we can find significant efficiencies and savings. 'Will we have to make tough choices?' Yes."

Bowen, a Republican from Owensboro, co-chairs the Pension Oversight Committee. He told WKU Public Radio he doesn’t support using bonds to help shore up the pension plan.